29 Unmissable Things to do in Nairobi

There are loads of things to do in Nairobi and Kenya but most tourists think only of safari, its beaches and little else. Most visitors plan to pass through its capital Nairobi as quickly as possible, but you are missing a trick. There is loads to see and do in Nairobi, from visiting Giraffes, to sipping cocktails at 5* hotels. Check out this list for more ideas,

Nairobi National Park

Location: Main entrance on Langata road

Realistically visiting the park is the the best thing to do in Nairobi. We are only city in the world with a national park in its centre, but this ain’t just any park. This is wild Africa on your doorstep.  A proper safari experience only minutes from the city. Nairobi National Park has all the Big 5 except elephants that sadly had to be relocated due to the park’s proximity to local residents. Make no mistake. This isn’t a zoo. The animals aren’t fenced. This is dirt roads, sticky mud, wild animals and if you are lucky bloody kills. It’s nature at its most raw, right on your doorstep and absolutely unmissable if you are in Nairobi. It’s No.1 on the list for a reason.  Read about my rainy day safari in the park here. 

things to do in nairobi

Snake Park

Location: Langata road opposite the Galleria mall

The snake park is a slightly misleading name. Whilst there are lots of snakes; mambas, boomslangs, a slightly aggressive cobra that head-butts the glass every time I go. There are also other animals. Lions, cheetahs, zebra, antelope, ostrich, crocodiles and giant tortoises stare slightly miserably from their caged confines. I try to remind myself that there are zoo’s all over the world, but it seems a particular cruelness to be locked up when your natural habitat is just a few km away.

I digress. In addition to the animals, there is a rather sorry looking play park for the kids. It has bouncy castles, slides, boats, swings and some rather rusty looking fairground rides. It also has some bumpers cars that go on for hours and that the kids adore. The rides are extra to the admission. It all sounds rather sorry for itself, doesn’t it? If you are looking for a way to pass the time. Or want to see some animals up close without paying the high costs for the safari walk or NNP then its worth checking out. An interesting day out for the reptile obsessed or bored children.

Nairobi Snake Park

Karura Forest and the River Café

Location: main entrance on Limuru Road

Karura Forest is a huge area of indigenous forest located within the city. Despite being surrounded on all sides a jumble of tall buildings, once within the forest you could be a million miles away from civilisation. Bike and walking trails criss-cross this jungle of trees and flowering plants. Monkey’s chatter and tiny Dik-Dik leap through thickets as brightly coloured Turaco watch you from tall bamboo forests and ancient trees. Karura is home to civets, genets, honey badgers and even jackals. Spending a day here is easy. Take a walk, eat lunch at the fabulous River Café and finish it off with a go on the obstacle course.

Karura Forest Waterfall

David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

Location: Magadi Road

The world famous David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage rescues orphaned and injured elephants from all over Kenya and Tanzania. A team of dedicated workers (these guys even sleep with the baby elephants at night) work to rehabilitate and rehome the elephants. Visiting time is 11.00 where you can view the adorable babies and enjoy a talk with the caretakers about the work the centre does.

Adopt an elephant for 50$ USD and you have the ability to visit any day at 5 pm. This is a far more interactive experience. You will see the elephants stampede back from the park at supper time, and get the chance to meet and touch each elephant and their personal carers. I really recommend adding this to your to-do list. More details here.

Foster an elephant Nairobi

29 things to do in Nairobi

The Giraffe Centre

Location: Duma Road, Hardy

The Giraffe Centre is one of the best-loved attractions in Nairobi, even as a resident I never tire of visiting these gentle giants. The Giraffe Centre allows you the chance to interact with Giraffes; meet them, feed them and even kiss them. The Giraffe Sanctuary opposite offers a short 1.5km walk where you could bump into a Giraffe or a warthog. Read about the Giraffe Centre here.

things to do in nairobi
Kiko the baby giraffe

High tea at Giraffe Manor

Location: Duma Road, Hardy

Next door to the Giraffe Centre is the superbly luxurious Giraffe Manor. Beloved of Instagrammers and celebrities worldwide. This is THAT hotel. The one where the Giraffes that poke their heads in the window whilst you eat your lunch. The cost of a night at the hotel will drain the colour from your face as quickly as the cash from your wallet, but you can sometimes phone up on the day and find out if there is any space for tea. If there’s a gap, then grab it for an unforgettable experience.

Giraffe Manor Hardy

Lazy stroll at Ololua Forest

Location: Karen Road, Karen

A less well-known forest than Karura this small portion of wildland tucked away in Karen has a perfect 5 km stroll. The walk will take you past a waterfall, and a cave (beware the bats) and through remarkably quiet woodland. You’ll spot monkeys and birds of all types, the occasional Dik Dik and even the odd hyena.  Into Geocaching? Spice up your walk a bit with the added thrill of a treasure hunt.

ololua forest walk

Shopping and lunch at the Village Market

Location: Limuru Road.

My favourite mall in Kenya. Gorgeous light and airy greenhouse of a mall. Since its update in 2018, the Village Market is a truly wonderful place to spend a day. I sometimes go there just to hang out (and visit the oyster and champagne bar). There are over 20 good restaurants, and an excellent food hall where you can sample wines, cheeses and other local goodies. One of the widest selection of shops from local chains to secret antique shops. Nowhere in Kenya are you going to find big named brands stores but this is the first place I’d head for shopping if I wanted to seek out something special.

The Village Market Nairobi

Best food in town at Boho Eatery

Location: Ndovu Road, Langata

My favourite restaurant in Nairobi is, in fact, a vegetarian restaurant. This is a shock to me as I’m a huge lover of meat, but the chef and owner at Boho Eatery is a culinary wizard. She can turn something as simple as avo on toast into a taste explosion of mesmeric proportions. I can’t recommend anyone thing off the menu because everything is good. Boho sits in sublimely tranquil surroundings. Its colonial style building has a large conservatory and a leafy garden that seems to be particularly favoured by sunbirds.

things to do in nairobi
Amazing veggie tacos at Boho Eatery

Cocktails with a view on the terrace at Hemmingway’s

Location: Mbagathi Road, Karen

5* hotel, Hemmingway’s is all slick marble entranceways, double staircases more in keeping with ‘Gone with the Wind’ and sweeping views over the Ngong Hills. It’s elegance refined and about as ‘posh’ as you get in Nairobi. However, even if you are glued your flip flips and never out your short shorts like me you can sneak in and enjoy amazing cocktails on the terrace. The sunset over the hills is epic.

Hemmingways view over the Ngong Hills

Authentic Mexican delights at Mercado

Location: Westlands

Mercado offers Mexican food in a swanky setting high up in the Kenrail building in Westlands. Head there for cocktails, guacamole and tortillas with a view over the city. The décor is sophisticated yet relaxed and it’s a lively place to enjoy a drink and a meal. The food isn’t blow your head off amazing if you are properly into Mexican food, but you can get all your Mexican staples and you won’t be disappointed.

mexican food nairobi

Eritrean food and a kid’s playground at Asmara

Location: Westlands or Ngong Road, Karen

There are two Asmara’s one in Westlands and one in Karen. I usually go to the Karen one as it’s a great place to bring the kids. Huge gardens, a jungle gym and a trampoline keep the kids happy whilst really quite delicious margaritas cocktails keep me smiling. The Eritrean and Ethiopian food is genuine and delicious, piles of injera and great bowls of spiced meat bubble over hot flames. Order lots of dishes and pass them around, this is food for sharing.

cocktails at Asmara

Take a step back in time at Karen Blixen Museum

Location: Karen Road

If you are into history or harbour a love of ‘Out of Africa’ then a visit to Karen Blixen’s former home is a great insight into famous colonists life. Her house has been preserved as it were when she lived there. As Baroness Blixen sold or gave away most of her belongings, a great effort was put into sourcing the original ornaments and mementoes from homes throughout Kenya.

Karen Blixen Antiques

Take a day trip to Naivasha

Location: Rift Valley

Lake Naivasha is a 90-minute drive out of Nairobi. The drive takes you into the Rift Valley and offers breathtaking views over this great gash in the earth that stretches some 6000 miles. One of the larger lakes in the rift that is also freshwater, it is home to over 500 hippos and many species of birds. You will often see wild giraffe, zebra and antelope grazing at the side of the lake. Head to Carnellys for a relaxed lunch under the shade of Acacia trees. Check out the woodpeckers, abundant Colobus monkeys and take a boat trip to view the hippos.  If you know someone that is a member of the Yacht Club then persuade them to take you. It’s a piece of heaven on earth.

naivasha farmers market

Eat ostrich balls at Carnivore

Location: Langata Road

A ‘Beast of a Feast’ goes the slogan and indeed, you can eat ostrich balls, crocodile, and most other type of African game meat you could wish for. Styled like a Brazilian Churrasco, Carnivore is pure theatre. Waiters attend you with a constant stream of barbequed meat all served on Maasai swords. The now infamous Dawa cocktails were invented at Carnivore and your Dawa waiter passes by rather   too frequently with his gunslinger belt of limes and vodka.  It’s tourist heaven but still worth a trip for the experience. A vegetarian option is available.

meat at Carnivore Nairobi

Shop your heart out at Spinners Web

Location: Kitisuru Road

Everyone’s gonna tell you to head to the Maasai markets for your African crafts, but here’s the secret. The market is actually pretty small. It also moves around daily so you have to find out where it’s located. Needless to say, it’s full of tourists. Spinners Web has vastly more stuff to buy than the markets and the prices are fixed so you don’t have the hassle and the bargaining. It’s a huge shop filled to the rafters with all kinds of goodies. You’ll find Maasai Shukas, beaded jewelery, art, clothing, antiques, pottery and glassware. It’s also a beautiful shop, located in a greenhouse type building with a café serving cakes, coffees, smoothies and salads. Make a day of it and stop for lunch

Spinners Web Nairobi

Ngong Hills Walk

Location: Kona Baridi

Wherever you head in Karen you’ll see the Ngong Hills. This 3077 hectares of forested hills were made famous through Karen Blixen’s books and the film. Shrouded in romance and mystery a walk on the hills is a perfect day out. A 5-hour walk from end to end, you need to take a guide with you. You can find one at the entrance at Kona Baridi.

Ngong Hills Walk

Safari ‘lite’ at the Safari Walk

Location: Entrance to Nairobi National Park on Langata Road

The Safari Walk has a zoo like feel, it is up to you if this is a good or bad thing. A raised platform circles land adjacent to the National Park. Many of the animals here have been rescued or rehabilitated from the park and are unable to be released back into the wild. A raised platform circles the grounds from which you can view cheetah, lion, hyena, rhino and others. This is a great day out for kids as the walk only takes half an hour.

Though a zoo in Kenya may seem counterintuitive, the truth is that safaris can be disappointing. You could spend a whole day in Nairobi National Park without seeing any big game, but at the Safari Walk, you have a guaranteed chance to spot all your favourites.

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Cocktails and sunshine at Zen Gardens

Location: Spring Valley

Zen Gardens is a modern Pan Asian restaurant and café. Catering to all needs it has an exquisite fine dining restaurant is called Bamboo but I prefer the much less formal Jade Gardens Cafe. A relaxed and informal space café that curves around the lush green gardens with casual food of a very high standard. A sushi menu is also available.

Zen Gardens is a great place to bring the kids as there is a playground tucked around the corner (great if you don’t have kids and don’t want to see them). The cocktails are amazing, food is delectable but it’s the atmosphere that crushes it. Serene, sophisticated, peaceful and calm. Completely unexpected in busy Spring Valley. Even better they have a freestanding patisserie and ice-cream parlour for yummy desserts. Read my blog on Zen Gardens here.

Burgers at Zen Gardens Nairobi

Best sushi in town at Haru

Location: Karen Road, Karen

The best sushi in town is at Haru Japanese Restaurant, location in a small, unassuming building within a shopping mall on Karen road. The interior and tiny garden are surprisingly pleasant. At night with candles burning and torches flaring you could be anywhere in the world. The sushi is unctuous, moreish and memorable in all the right ways, my review goes into more detail. Needless to say, if you are in the area and fancy sushi don’t go anywhere else.

Haru Japanese Restaurant

Buy art at Banana Hill Gallery

Location: Banana Raini Road.

Banana Hill Gallery showcases art and sculptures from over 70 contemporary Nairobi artists. The art scene in Nairobi is enormously exciting with artists old and young starting to gain global recognition. You will have the opportunity to buy that painting of a lion you have been swooning over but there is so much more than just wildlife art. Inspiration is taken from rural life, from the streets and from nature. Can’t make it there, you can buy art online at the Banana Hill Gallery website.

Banana Hill Art Gallery Nairobi

Ngong Racecourse

Location: Ngong Road

Ngong Racecourse is the only thoroughbred-racing venue in the country.

Enjoy a family-friendly day at the races or check what other events are on at the racecourse. They often host concerts, dogs’ shows and fashions shows. A fantastic family day out.

Ngong Horse Racing

Follow Alice down the rabbit hole at Kitengela Glass

Location: Kitengela, through Ongata Rongai

Kitengela Hot Glass is an hour’s drive out of town, through dusty roads where camels and donkeys graze. It is perhaps my favourite place in Nairobi. Anselm Croze and Nani have between them created two of the most bizarre, fascinating and beautiful places I’ve ever been to. Kitengela Glass and Nani’s place are right next door to each other with the more commercial Kitengela arriving first along the road. But to call Kitengela commercial is misleading. True enough the final glassware and ornaments are ordered and shipped all over the world. And also true that Kitengela now has 5 stores throughout Kenya but its still an otherworldly experience into the surreal.
Central to the Kitengela experience is the huge dome that houses furnaces where you can watch the glass being blown. The entire Kitengela site and in particular Nani’s next door is an art gallery. Sculptures dot the place; those that you recognise; the grim reaper, a hobbit house and a car ploughing into the earth, sit side by side with Dali-esque forms from deep within the imagination. Words cannot describe nor do the place credit. Only a visit will suffice. Oh and the glassware is incredible. It is impossible to visit Kitengela without coming home with something new.

Kitengela Glass

Feel young again at Brew Bistro

Location: Westlands & Ngong Road (not visited)

You might already be young but I’m definitely into middle age. A visit to Brew Bistro reminds me of all the nights out I used to have in London. Large warehouse space CHECK. DJ booming over a dance floor CHECK Men and women on the prowl CHECK.

It’s not quite the Clapham Grand though. The cocktails are lush, they serve really good burger and ribs style food and to be honest with its great terrace and chill out areas it is more restaurant than nightclub. As the night presses on, the atmosphere becomes charged. If you can ignore randy businessmen looking for company for the night then it’s a great night out.

Brew Bistro Nairobi

Party with the locals at J’s bar Rooftop bar

Location: 3rd Floor, Karen Landmark building, Karen

J’s Rooftop Bar has moved from its former site along Karen Road to an awesome spot at the top of the Landmark. Its gained a bird’s eye view across the trees and houses of Karen. A funky bar area fronts a covered restaurant with cool leather seating before leading to less formal roof gardens. The cocktails are some of the best I’ve had in Nairobi, the gin with dill and cucumber will go down in memory as one of the greats. The food menu ranges from tapas to burgers and steaks. Like being in a city bar whilst being in the sleepy outskirts of Karen.

Js rooftop bar Nairobi

Visit the No. 1 Restaurant in town at The Talisman

Location: Ngong Road

The Talisman is one of the most popular restaurants in Nairobi. It is consistently at the top of voting polls. What I like the most is the relaxed and informal atmosphere, combined with efficient service and scrumptious food. Eclectic surroundings feature carved wood, Kitengela glass, tented seating and little fireplaces tucked away for the odd rainy day. There is a playground for the kids and a kid’s menu but it isn’t overtly child focused. The Talisman never falters and never lets you down. It’s voted the best for a reason.

The Talisman Nairobi

Take a tour at Kazuri Beads factory

Location: Mbagathi Drive, Karen

Kazuri Beads were started by two mothers who were looking to find work back in 1975. As their beads proved popular they soon realised that other mothers around Nairobi were looking for employment. Kazuri has since evolved to provide employment for over 340 women who work all day to create exquisite jewelry and pottery.

A tour of the workshop and to meet the women is a worthwhile and insightful way to learn about the lives of local women as well as the creative process that is put into the beads. The onsite shop sells jewelry and pottery for very reasonable prices. Buy a gift with a wonderful backstory.

Kazuri beads

$4 movies and popcorn Mondays & Thursday at Junction Cinemax

Location: Cinemax at The Junction Mall

Watch the movie of your choice for just $4 including a giant bag of popcorn at Junction Cinema. ‘Nuff said.

junction cinema nairobi

Take the kids to a soft play at Two Rivers Mall

Location: Two River Mall,

Sometimes you just want to chuck the kids in a soft play and chill. Two Rivers Mall is home to the awesome Magic Planet soft play. Perfect for kids to burn off energy. It also has rides and a trampoline park. For bigger kids or adult there is a fun park outside with huge waterslides and skate park. And, of course, Two Rivers is a fabulous destination for eating and shopping.Screen Shot 2019 04 22 at 7.55.48 PM

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This Post Has 13 Comments

  1. Dani

    Hi! I’m moving to Nairobi for the summer, and your blog has been extremely helpful in my planning, so thank you! I wanted to ask- for treks such as Ngong Hills, what is the best way to get there and then get back to Westlands / Spring Valley area? I won’t have a car while there, so I’m wondering what the best way to get around (and not get “stranded” without a return home) would be. Thanks in advance!

    1. admin

      There will be Boda Boda drivers waiting at the entrance to the hills but IM unsure if I would feel comforatable driving all the way into Westlands on a Boda Boda. I suggest that you get a taxi and ask him to pick you up on your return – or you hire a car/driver for the day and ask them to do the same. I can give you the number of a good company. There will probably be matatus going at least back into Karen or Langata if you feel comfortable using them.

  2. Anonymous

    Hi there,
    This was a super useful article; I love the unique perspective!
    We are a family of 5, going to Nairobi for the first time. I would love the info of that car hire company if you still have it.
    Thanks!